OPEN

[hornedomen]

Date & Time: All throughout January
Location: Outside places.
Characters: Ico and you!
Summary: Hunting and following hunters.
Warnings: Animals will die.

[a]

[The natural talents of a Sacrifice could only go so far. Though Ico picked up the bow and arrow with eerie efficiency, hunting was an entirely different matter. Not all his hunts were successful. It took time and failures for him to learn. Though at times he grew frustrated, he persevered.

Successful hunts ended in the death of a small animal such as birds. Ico did not enjoy it, but it was necessary. He prayed over the animal in a strange language. Because he had never hunted back in Toksa, he made up the prayers, and even the act itself. Once he finished, he hesitantly grabbed his knife.]

How am I supposed to do this?

[b]

[What better way to learn than by learning from a hunter? The hunters of Toksa village often hunted in groups, so he believed that by joining others, he would also better his chances of a successful hunt. Should Ico see another person hunting, he did not hesitate to follow. Snow crunched loudly under his feet as he quickly approached.]

Hey! [He waved to get their attention.] May I hunt with you? I'm still learning.

Comments

[wolfuncaged]

I...do not know.

[There's a pause.] I do not know how old I am now. My memories were...corrupted. It was about ten years ago, however.

[hornedomen]

Corrupted? How did that happen?

[This sounded more serious than simply forgetting. But what could take memories away?]

[wolfuncaged]

They were taken from me, by magic.

[hornedomen]

[Too distracted, Ico did not look where he was cutting. The knife grazed his nail and he pulled his hand back. Luckily, he was not bleeding. He felt the groove on his nail and he put the knife down.]

So someone did that to you? Why? Is there any way to get your memories back?

[wolfuncaged]

Be careful. [That's something like caution.]

He did it to keep me his pet, and no this is no way to return them to me, they're gone. Forever.

[hornedomen]

[He nodded, appreciative that Fenris was here to guide him. It made him feel that more frustrated that he could do nothing to help his memories. He picked up the knife again and cut more carefully.]

I can't believe anyone would do that. I'm sorry, Fenris. It must be hard; the past is so important.

[wolfuncaged]

It matters not if it is hard or not, it is the life I have to lead. The past, important as it is, is lost, and there is nothing I can do about it.

[hornedomen]

You're right. [Though he wished Fenris was not; it was such a cruel fate.

He finished cutting up the fox. The skin was too damaged to be of use for anything, but he managed to save most of the meat.] I'm finished. Would you like to see my room, Fenris? You can put your things in there whenever you have the time. After I'm done at the clinic, I can even help you. There's not a lot in there, so I have lots of room.

[wolfuncaged]

[He makes a soft noise, which could be considered affirmative at least.]

Thank you, that is...most kind.

[hornedomen]

[At least Ico was observant enough to know what these sounds meant. He gathered the meat and he led the way.]

You're welcome. This way, it's up here. We have stairs now. Before, we had to use a rope.

[He went up the newly made stairs and he stopped at one end of the hall.] This is it. There's light and it's warm here. We put our food in the ice on the fourth floor. I'm going to put the meat there and then I'll go to the clinic, okay?

[After trying to shift the load in his arms, he gave up and simply turned around so his backpack faced Fenris.] My key's in the pocket on the right. Could you get it?

[wolfuncaged]

I would rather carry the load.

[Fenris is not a touching type.]

[hornedomen]

Okay.

[He turned around so he could give Fenris the meat. With the burden shifted, he pulled the backpack around so he could get the key.

The room was sparsely furnished, if at all, and it was clear that only he lived in here. There was only one bed.]

You can have the bed. I don't mind sleeping on the ground. [He gave Fenris the key and he held his arms out so he could take the meat again.] Will you be okay for now?

[wolfuncaged]

[He takes it and nods, the smallest of smiles crossing his face.]

That will be sufficient, but I will not remove you from your own bed. I have slept on the ground many times, this will not make any difference.

[hornedomen]

[He saw that smile. It made him happy, though Ico was not smiling just yet. He could not just invite someone over and expect him to sleep on the floor.]

Are you sure? I don't mind, really. I sleep on the ground all the time, too, so I'm used to it.

[wolfuncaged]

As am I. [He shrugs a little.] I suppose we could take it in turns, if it makes you feel any better.

[hornedomen]

[Now he smiled. It did make him feel better; at least Fenris would not be sleeping on the ground all the time.]

Okay, we'll keep switching until we get another bed. I'm going to put this away now. If you get hungry I have some snacks on the table, and we can cook food over there.

[He tipped his head, using his horns to point down the hall where the kitchenette was before he started going up the stairs.]